"Great Debaters" review

"Very much in line with recognizable Oprah Winfrey mandates, The Great Debaters promotes literacy and articulateness, highlights the significant oral tradition in black storytelling, crams in as many factual details and statistics as time will allow, and depicts a society that, however impoverished and oppressed, valued knowledge and education," writes Variety's Todd McCarthy in his 12.18 review.


"Above all, pic illustrates that the civil rights movement didn't just spring out of nowhere in the 1960s, but was preceded by nearly a century's worth of innumerable small, brave, mostly unknown steps.

"As agenda-driven and well-scrubbed as the film may be, that's already a lot to pack into a straightforward narrative and doesn't even include the story's most unexpected sidelight -- the implication that the revered English teacher and intellectually incisive debate coach, the real-life Melvin B. Tolson (played by director Denzel Washington), was a radical labor organizer and possible communist.

"The first notable element for contempo audiences is how well-dressed, polite and well-spoken everyone onscreen is; the era's profound deprivations notwithstanding, the constant supply of freshly cleaned clothes is impressive. Even more striking is how the rural students -- who, when they debate, wear tuxedos -- toss off Latin phrases and quotations from James Joyce and D.H. Lawrence with the casual insouciance of Oxford lads. Who knew?"

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 18, 2007 at 2:05 PM

comment #1

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

Are you sure that wasn't written by Joe Biden?

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:16 PM

comment #2

the king Author Profile Page says ...

But why does it remind me of "Remember the Titans" but with books and speeches and reading and shit?

Posted by the king Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:17 PM

comment #3

the king Author Profile Page says ...

OR
Dangerous Minds
Or
Freedom Writers
OR
Coach Carter
OR
Lean on Me

Posted by the king Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:22 PM

comment #4

VedaPierce Author Profile Page says ...

Bless Oprah and Denzel. If they can't bring an audience out to watch a film about black people reading, no one can.

Posted by VedaPierce Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:23 PM

comment #5

erniesouchak Author Profile Page says ...

I was struck by some of these things, too, but I can't say they bothered me. It's difficult to remember that there WAS a time when young people actually dressed well to go to school -- to go anywhere, for that matter; you still see vestiges of it today when you see those people, now senior citizens, out and about running errands in their suit-jackets. It doesn't at all surprise me that the kids in "Great Debaters" would at least be sticklers about clean clothes. As for the literacy level, that, too, seems alien today, but remember the movie is set at a time when books were the only refuge for the curious -- no Web, no TV!

Posted by erniesouchak Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:24 PM

comment #6

Dave Keller Author Profile Page says ...

Of course, it's lightweight and, at times, kind of corny. But there's something to be said for a family film that encourages teens not to be total pricks all the time. It's harmless fluff, and you know it will be entertaining and quality with Washington in it. There are bigger sins in the world.

Posted by Dave Keller Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:24 PM

comment #7

p.Vice Author Profile Page says ...

This is hilarious... lacking realism and psychological depth, but has spirit. Brilliant. So it's okay to whitewash the main character's radical politics, fictionalize the climactic Harvard debate, and shoehorn a bunch of composite characters into an easily digestable formula package all because it purports to promote literacy and a positive African-American image? I fail to see how "fluff" is harmless when it comes at the expense of the truth.

What is the point of education when it comes at the expense of honesty? So people will be more prone to accept the lies foisted upon them by the entertainment industry? I thought it was so people actually got hip to the way the world worked, not the other way around. Oprah and Uncle Denzel should be embarassed if this is all they can come up with.

Posted by p.Vice Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 2:47 PM

comment #8

Sean Author Profile Page says ...

"So it's okay to whitewash the main character's radical politics"

Vice - read Wells's post again. I think you misread part of it.

Posted by Sean Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 3:00 PM

comment #9

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Did he really say "well-spoken?" Awesome.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 3:05 PM

comment #10

AH Author Profile Page says ...

I wish I could drum up the kind of vitriol that p.Vice has over a movie that shows the value of education, books and words.

Posted by AH Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 3:42 PM

comment #11

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

I feel like the bitter old cynic in me should be running from this thing, but if the trailer is to believed it might actually work. Original? No. But so what?

I don't know, maybe I'm getting soft.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 4:01 PM

comment #12

VedaPierce Author Profile Page says ...

If we get a nifty theme song out of it like "To Sir, With Love", then I might just give in.

Posted by VedaPierce Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 4:11 PM

comment #13

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

The world needs more Lulu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wNNLePF9e4

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 4:25 PM

comment #14

Dirty Harry Author Profile Page says ...

I'm screening this in a few hours and hoping to be pleasantly surprised. I still hate myself for being so masterfully manipulated by TITANS but I have a soft-spot for Mr. Washington a mile wide. He truly can do wrong with me.

If I were black in 1920's America I'd have been a Communist too. Who cares?

Posted by Dirty Harry Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 4:31 PM

comment #15

guideman Author Profile Page says ...

I think Oprah did a good thing. But it seems some millionaires have some negative comments for her at Richromances.com. These guys talked a lot about her.

Posted by guideman Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 6:04 PM

comment #16

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

ernie: "It's difficult to remember that there WAS a time when young people actually dressed well to go to school -- to go anywhere, for that matter; you still see vestiges of it today when you see those people, now senior citizens, out and about running errands in their suit-jackets."

If we could still find anything today which didn't consist of ill-fitting clothes made in sweatshops, I'm sure we would try to dress classier.

"As for the literacy level, that, too, seems alien today, but remember the movie is set at a time when books were the only refuge for the curious -- no Web, no TV!"

More like no Republicans gutting money from schools built in ghettos...

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 6:05 PM

comment #17

count.olaf Author Profile Page says ...

so...is Variety saying back then no one got hit with mexican takeout OR dead pigeons?

Posted by count.olaf Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 6:23 PM

comment #18

James Author Profile Page says ...

Wait...

Did DZ just admit to being a teenager? As annoying as he can be, can we finally allow ourselves to realize that telling him to "shut up" or otherwise engaging with his shenanigans is exactly what he wants?

I'm just saying...

Posted by James Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 7:05 PM

comment #19

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

James: No, I just admitted to being a "young" person.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 7:07 PM

comment #20

Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page says ...

So...I see they're letting the coloreds go to college now. What next?

Posted by Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 7:08 PM

comment #21

Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page says ...

"The world needs more Lulu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wNNLePF9e4"

Yes, but what did Lulu do to stop America's genocide against the people of Vietnam?

- (do I even need to say?)

Posted by Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 7:10 PM

comment #22

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

Walter: "So...I see they're letting the coloreds go to college now. What next?"

Letting dumb-ass white people who happen to be sons of governors go to college...

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 7:14 PM

comment #23

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

SHUT UP! Learn to recognize a joke when you see one.

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 8:02 PM

comment #24

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

James, he's 27, but he turns 28 on Saturday.

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 8:03 PM

comment #25

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

jeff's showing off his stalker knowledge.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 8:36 PM

comment #26

alynch Author Profile Page says ...

jeffmcm, that actually is kind of creepy.

Posted by alynch Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 8:55 PM

comment #27

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

Gee, DZ, since you've declared me to be your 'enemy' I'm just trying to protect myself with information.

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 9:10 PM

comment #28

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

No, I declared people willing to take away my opportunities to serve their own interests my enemy.
I assume you genuinely believe supporting shitty candidates with moderate policies will somehow benefit me in the long run, even if you're thinking naively.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 9:20 PM

comment #29

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

No, you declared everyone who doesn't agree with you to be your enemy. That's the subtext of every word you've written on this blog. If that's not what you meant then you need to improve your writing skills - probably a good idea in general, because you come off as a totally ignorant blowhard who forces his beliefs down everyone else's throats and surely that's not what you want people to think of you, right?

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 9:41 PM

comment #30

Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page says ...

By the way cjkennedy, that Lulu link kicked ass! Much love.

Posted by Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 9:56 PM

comment #31

christian Author Profile Page says ...

"The time has come
for long last looks
and closing books..."

Kills me.

And speaking of killing, am I the only one who loves this 007 Lulu-palooza:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EvYYPnJxn-o

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at December 18, 2007 11:21 PM

comment #32

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

Make Lulu not war Walter! All I'm saying.

Give Lulu a chance.

You're not alone Christian. One of the best Bond songs, unfortunately the movie...not so much.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 2:24 AM

comment #33

christian Author Profile Page says ...

I actually think that MWTGG is Moore's best Bond performance, at least his wittiest. The film suffers from a bad script, but it's one of Barry's best, underrated Bond scores, it's also got Christopher Lee, karate fights, and Herve Villechaize. And Lulu.

For a cool kick, here's the unused Alice Cooper version:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=R500VKA9-Zo&feature=related

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 9:51 AM

comment #34

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

I loved MWTGG when I was a kid. The corkscrew jump! Come on! But none of the Moore Bonds have aged very well for me.

What's the story with that Alice Cooper thing? That as kind of cool.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 9:58 AM

comment #35

christian Author Profile Page says ...

Cooper was asked to do a the theme for MWTGG but the producers thought him too controversial. The song is pretty rockin'...

But here's the very best unused Bond theme, Blondie's For Your Eyes Only, which just kicks ass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3anh2SV-7s

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 10:15 AM

comment #36

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

Wow, a whole new level of Bond I didn't know about.

Good stuff.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 11:46 AM

comment #37

Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page says ...

Lulu's "MWTGG" theme is one of the kick-assier of the Bond themes... who'da thunk she could sound so torchy?

and Wow.... thanks for the Blondie/Cooper finds... how did I not know of these?!

Few love Blondie more than I, but the song doesn't really fit a Bond film.... it's new wave, D.I.Y.ish, whereas Bond is all about tuxedos and martinis....

Posted by Walter Sobchak Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 11:58 AM

comment #38

christian Author Profile Page says ...

I think with a brassy Barry addition the Blondie song would be a perfect Bond theme, at least kickin' off the very new wave 80's instead of the soft muzak of Easton. Blondie's music has a cool minor chord cinematic sound.

And Duran Duran did one of the best Bond songs and they were influenced big time by Blondie so there's a connection...

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 12:03 PM

comment #39

christian Author Profile Page says ...

Consider this thread officially hi-jacked.

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 12:05 PM

comment #40

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

I've gotta say I'm a big fan of Nancy Sinatra's You Only Live Twice and the whole soundtrack in general.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 12:23 PM

comment #41

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

That flying car is what hurts the film. Everything else is passable.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 12:25 PM

comment #42

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

Come on DZ, admit it. When you were 7 that flying car was awesome.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 12:34 PM

comment #43

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

cj: I wasn't young enough to have seen it when it first came out, so the only flying car I considered to be awesome was in the Back to the Future movies.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 1:13 PM

comment #44

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

Sometimes, just for my own amusement, I read your comments in Comic Book Guy voice.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 1:30 PM

comment #45

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

I worked on a documentary last year about kids with autism, ranging down the spectrum from mild social awkwardness to completely lacking speech ability and social control. I have, for a long time, pictured DZ somewhere on the almost-normal side of the spectrum - posting and writing and honestly not understanding why he isn't met with more adulation and friendly regard.
The autistic OCD manifests itself in his compulsive posts, disassociated from any communicative or social function. In a past age, he'd be filling up ruled notebooks with this stuff, or letters to the editor. His inability to forge social relationships leaves him frustrated, but because he mentally cannot understand that the problem stems from within he lashes out at the world around him, developing a typical paranoia/superiority complex. Since the world shuns him, it is the world that is flawed, not him. He's latched on to a shallow neo-Marxist worldview that gives him a feeling of belonging and purpose and the masquerade of righteousness, but he could have just as easily fallen for religious mania or some other obsessive mantra depending on whatever his upraising was.
If I was Hunter Tremayne, I'd diagnose him as some kind of borderline personality but I'm not so I'll stop here.

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 9:26 PM

comment #46

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

All of that was to say that I picture him as a young skinny guy sitting at a computer and blinking a lot.

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at December 19, 2007 9:32 PM

comment #47

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

that was pretty great. It beats my theory that he's a robot.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at December 20, 2007 12:46 PM

comment #48

Lisha Author Profile Page says ...

Recently, quite a few celebrities were said to appear on the millionaire luxury club "RichLoving.com" OMG!!! Are these famous guys fond of internet dating for now?? Maybe they are indeed so rich that they feel boring sometimes to need new things/

Posted by Lisha Author Profile Page at December 20, 2007 11:41 PM

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